The religious figure Sor Nadieska Almeida and the priest Lester Rafael Zayas Díaz were among the dozens of Cubans who gathered this Thursday to support Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, known as Anna Bensi, and her mother, Caridad Silvente, during the trial both are facing in Havana.
According to CubaNet, both religious figures managed to reach the vicinity of the court, where activists, friends, members of religious communities, and others gathered to support the mother and daughter.
Hours earlier, Almeida had publicly called on Christians to support Bensi and Silvente with a “real presence” at the court. In a message released the day before, he urged that the support be visible and expressed his admiration for their “nobility and resolve.”
Other images released from the site showed dozens of people in the vicinity of the courthouse, including religious leaders and activists who managed to bypass the security measures in place throughout the day.
The presence of supporters contrasted with the extensive police deployment reported since early hours of this Thursday.
CubaNet documented police and accredited press outside the courthouse, while independent journalists, activists, and others reported surveillance and restrictions on movement.
At least four people who intended to attend the trial were reported as detained. Among them are pastor Rolando Pérez Lora, known as "Pregonero de Cristo", and his wife, as well as Baptist leader David Espinosa Martínez and his wife, according to CubaNet.
The operation also included reports of siege and restrictions on leaving homes. The journalist Camila Acosta reported seeing seven to eight agents outside her house; Yoani Sánchez reported that the police were preventing her from leaving, and fellow journalist Vladimir Turró stated that he had been warned by State Security not to attend the trial.
Members of the youth project Fuera de la Caja Cuba also reported having patrols and agents stationed outside their homes and stated that they were ordered not to leave until after 11:00 AM.
The trial against Anna Bensi and Caridad Silvente has been scheduled for this Thursday, after a hearing initially set for September was postponed.
Both are accused of "acts against personal and family privacy" for recording and publishing the visit of a Ministry of Interior agent who came to their home to deliver a citation from State Security.
The process has generated a significant wave of solidarity in recent days. In addition to religious figures, artists, influencers, and other Cuban personalities have spread messages of support for mother and daughter and have questioned the judicial process.
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